Singapore July and September 2012

Finally posting these after so long! I went to Singapore twice recently – once during the last week of July for a leadership conference for Operation Smile (where I am an ambassador) and once during the first week of September to attend a seminar of sorts. Of course, as always, I managed to find time to do other things in between my fixed schedules. As for what those “other things” were… well, I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

Anyhow, I’m going to take this opportunity to announce the addition of a new concept for my blog. You all know that I love traveling and taking pictures of my outfits, right? So why not do a project where I combine a little bit of both? I’m calling it MOFW, which stands for “My Own Fashion Week”. Basically, it involves me posting outfit photos for a week, featuring brands or online stores from the most recent travel entry. Expect some “MOFW: Singapore” entries starting tomorrow! I coincidentally accumulated gifts from some Singaporean blogshops recently, so what’s a better way to showcase them than to actually dedicate a week for them? I still don’t know what I’ll come up with, but it’s definitely going to be a fun challenge.

Now, on to the photos! I’m combining both my trips into one entry since some of my activities (i.e. shopping, lol) overlapped anyway.

The most convenient way to get to the city from the airport! I love that they have a train connected to one of the terminals, because it saves you so much taxi money!

ONE°15 Marina Club at Sentosa, where I stayed for a night or two. The owner of this place is an active supporter of Operation Smile Singapore, and it was so nice of him to let us stay in this wonderful place.

The Youth Park in Somerset. We had a whole day carnival activity of sorts here, to raise awareness for Operation Smile. We even gave out flyers to people along Orchard.

One of my functional travel outfits. I usually wear super simple outfits and just make myself more bongga by doing my hair and make-up properly!

I took a hop on hop off bus tour! So convenient because you get to see the whole city, and hear trivia about certain places as well.

The driver of the bus stopped the vehicle and started spazzing about these one-day orchids! Lucky I got to see them during my trip!

With the other Operation Smile delegates from Indonesia. They were adorbs and I loved their fashion as well!

This was somewhere in Clarke Quay.

Clarke Quay by night!

I represented Operation Smile Philippines with Louise, who you may all find familiar! She was on Junior Masterchef! We were roommates for a few days, and it was so fun because it was like having a sister!

But uhh, she is already an inch taller than me even if we’re 10 years apart. FML.

Far East Plaza, along Scotts Rd. This is one of my favorite places to shop in Singapore. Here you can find a lot of dainty stores and popular blogshops that sell their own designs, as well as other stuff that are imported from places like Thailand, China and Korea.

MAC Morange and Ruby Woo, two shades of lipsticks that seem to always be out of stock here in Manila!

I rode the MRT alone to Marina Bay Sands. One of the best things about Singapore is their transportation system! So tourist-friendly!

TWG, where I have my afternoon tea and macarons almost everyday. Wish we had the actual tea salon here in Manila!

I had lunch at KRAZE BURGER while watching some kids ice skate.

The shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Here you can find a lot of high-end brands, as well as celebrity restaurants.

On a hot afternoon, silly me decided to pay a visit to the newest attraction in Singapore…

Gardens by the Bay! Looks straight out of a movie or a video game, yes? It looks more surreal at night.

You could check out the two cooled conservatories for a fee. The first dome I went to was the Cloud Forest. I actually didn’t plan on checking these places out until I went to Singapore again with my family, but silly me decided to come here when the sun was at its hottest. I immediately looked for an air-conditioned place, but eventually found myself dedicating a few hours just relaxing and enjoying the conservatories. Totally worth the adventure!

The world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

The Cloud Forest replicates the conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres and 3,000 metres above sea level.

You can check the different conditions out as you go up the “mountain”. They made it feel so real!

View from above.

Inside the “mountain”, there are also some sights to see.

One of my favorite things in this conservatory was this presentation of what will happen to the planet if global warming worsens, at the rate that it’s going. The end of the world can just be around the corner, if we don’t do anything to save it.

And then after you leave the projector room, you’re presented with this beauty. SAVE THE PLANET!

After the Cloud Forest, I went to the Flower Dome…

…where I took my time taking pictures of the prettiest flowers!

One of the good things about going here during the day is being able to take good, naturally-lit and non-grainy photos!

My desktop wallpaper.

Highlight of the Flower Dome: this area with all these pink, red and purple flowers! Also, in this area, there’s a restaurant or an events space which I think would be so ideal for weddings!

Baobab!

Next option for my desktop wallpaper.

I wish I had someone to take my pictures when I was here! I was wearing floral, and it wasn’t even on purpose!

The Singapore Flyer to the left.

Airport and shopping outfit! I can spend hours just walking, taking pictures and shopping here, so flats are a must!

Lucky for us, these watches are already available in Time Depot! I already have the Yoona, Jessica and Sunny ones!

Man reading newspaper in front of Forever 21.

CHANEL, I LOVE YOU!

Those boots, I covet.

LV shoes. I’m quite drawn to pointy shoes nowadays!

Valentino. Super cute and pink! Very reminiscent of Legally Blonde.

The most badass sweater that I’ve ever own. This one from Zara was such a steal! I love how it’s already so ornate that you could pair it with the simplest clothes and it would still make you look fabulous.

H&M COME TO MANILA SOON PLEASE! Ugh, I spend so much here every single time. But I’m also so happy that they provide tourist refund! <3

My favorite Topshop in Singapore. Even if they have Topshops in other malls, I still prefer to shop here! I think it’s the most complete one!

On my free night, I had dinner with *the* Zhang Jingna, a.k.a. zemotion of deviantART. We had the nicest foie gras steak and the yummiest green tea cakes!

And then there was Haji Lane, which I call like the Cubao X of Singapore. It’s every eclectic fashionista’s paradise.

Arm candy and Campbell’s.

Cute rings!

What a wander wonderful store signage!

Cute mailbox, and the nicest cyan paint background.

Ugh, every place in Haji Store is calling out to me! So ideal for photoshoots.

Daintiest store in Haji Lane. I wish to live here.

Salad.

I saw this cat sleeping in the store and thought it was fake. A few minutes after it started jumping around everywhere! Sorry for taking your photo, Estee. From that look in your eyes, I know you are quite mad…

Took the MRT to Bugis+ after Haji Lane because I haven’t been here before.

OMG, Lowry’s Farm has a giant store in Bugis+! Well, I know they’re also available in the Collect Points in Isetan but this one is huuuuge! A must for those who love Japanese brands and Japanese fashion!

Dinner alone at Novena, where I stayed for a few days. I spent 10-15 minutes walking to Ibis Hotel to the Novena station everyday! It was a refreshing sight because the area was filled with high-end condo buildings and hospitals.

But it’s really nice to have spend time in a foreign country alone, without any set schedule, without any one to bother you with work. This is my idea of a holiday!

I cheat with red lips. It means not having to spend too much time on eye make-up. This is my no-fail way to make myself instantly presentable!

Singapore flags.

I CRY. IPPUDO IS IN SINGAPORE. Yes, you heard that right! I was able to experience Hakata ramen straight from the source in Fukuoka, so I was overjoyed to find out that they had a restaurant in Mandarin Gallery! The experience and the ambience were different from the Ippudo I tried in Fukuoka, but still good enough because I really missed being able to choose the noodles’ firmness! Never encountered a ramen restaurant here in Manila that offers barikata, etc.

Ojii-chan, you’re making a really creepy face…

Post-sunset view somewhere in the Marina Bay Sands area.

The Louis Vuitton Island Maison.

National Day was on August 9, but they were rehearsing fireworks a week or two too early. Managed to enjoy the whole show while on a bus to my hotel. Lucky!

Night version of my shot of the Singapore Flyer and the Gardens by the Bay. Only thing missing here would be Avatars…

I’ve been to this country a number of times with my family (Universal Studios with them was so fun), but I don’t mind coming back here every so often because it’s so ideal for someone like me who loves cities (and shopping).

Love how everything is in English and everyone knows how to speak the language! I can’t speak Mandarin to save my life (My dad, my angkong, and ama speak Hokkien fluently, but my mom is Filipino so I didn’t go to a Chinese high school)… if I ever need saving in Singapore. It’s one place I’m sure that I’ll be 100% safe. Wish I could fly there every quarter or something. Someone give me blogging work in Singapore!

But seriously, I hope you guys liked how I presented your country through my eyes and my camera’s lens! Can’t wait for my next visit!

About Tricia

Tricia Gosingtian documents her personal style, lifestyle, travels and photography in this small space she considers a personal diary. She hopes to give you places to go to when you have to stay where you are.